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Board Vote Marks a New Chapter in AIA History

Approves bylaw language for a new bicameral structure

On Thursday, December 12, 2013, the AIA Board of Directors approved bylaws language that outlines a new AIA governance model, moving the AIA toward a bi-cameral structure. The decision creates two houses:

• A small board of directors composed of 11-15 members chosen for their specific talents and areas of expertise will pursue a defined, strategic set of fiduciary concerns that affect the health of the Institute.

• A large council composed of 50 or so elected members who represent geographic, demographic, and subject-matter diversity, will pursue a larger set of broad, critical concerns affecting the profession.

AIA members, through their delegates, will vote on the bylaws change at the 2014 AIA National Convention in Chicago, Ill. (June 26-28).

Throughout the Repositioning process of research and analysis, AIA members desired explicitly to see the AIA become a more agile organization and provide bold leadership for the profession. A streamlined governance framework allows the Board to more effectively address important issues affecting members and the profession. Changes to the governance structure create more time and space for elected leaders to address professional issues that will heighten the AIA’s relevance and value to members. Finally, governance that supports agility will enable the Institute to respond to new opportunities more effectively.

The Board’s vote comes exactly 13 weeks after its September 20, 2013 decision to pursue a bicameral structure and approval of a new alignment statement, crafted in consultation with Kotter International, the firm helping the Institute make this significant and lasting change. Kotter combined all of the feedback and key takeaways from the Repositioning research and created a simple compelling distillation of our commitment and direction toward a renewed AIA:

Advancing Through Architecture

Together, we agree that the time is now to change the way we think and behave in order to shape our future. To become a more valued, relevant organization, the AIA will focus our priorities to:

(1) Elevate public awareness

(2) Advocate for the profession

(3) Create and expand the sharing of knowledge and expertise to ensure a prosperous future for our members

Never before have we needed this level of bold, visionary leadership to inspire architects to work together and build a better world for all people—through architecture.